Gentle, Mary -- Ilario: The Lion's Eye
Standalone novel set in Gentle's "Ash" alternate history. I say this
is her best novel; the plot is coherent (not tight, but plenty of
momentum). It rebounds between political intrigue (petty and dirty,
not world-spanning) and the wonders of Gentle's mad setting, while
remaining tightly focussed on themes of family and gender. In every
combination -- the protagonist is a (true) hermaphrodite, and the
story only more complicated from there. And unlike Gentle's usual take
on family, it's not unremittingly bitter. (Note: currently in print
in the US, but divided into two volumes confusingly titled "The Lion's
Eye" and "The Stone Golem". I read the UK edition.)
Books I have acquired recently
All the books I own